EAST RUTHERFORD &dash; Each day it's looking less and less likely that Giants starting running back Rashad Jennings will play Sunday in Tennessee. He has a sprained ankle suffered in last week's loss to the Jaguars that has kept him off the practice field so far this week.

Unless Jennings makes a miraculous recovery, gets on the practice field Friday and proves to coach Tom Coughlin and the Giants that he's healthy enough to run and cut without restrictions, there will be a new face in the backfield.

Rookie Andre Williams is expected to start against the Titans if Jennings can't play. Fellow rookie Orleans Darkwa would also get some snaps. It sure sounded Thursday as if Darkwa (6-0, 215) was part of the plan. The Tulane product was signed off the Miami Dolphins practice squad last month.

"He is working his way into it, he has been here a little while, he is smart, conscientious, we trust him," offensive coordinator Ben McAdoo said. "He has a little different flavor back there for us. Next man up."

Different flavor is an interesting term. The Giants have been insistent on stacking their backfield this season with big, powerful, straight-line backs. Darkwa brings slightly different skills to the table.

"He is a shiftier type guy and we like him … stay tuned. We will leave it at that," McAdoo said.

This is what happens in Week 14 when you are 3-9 and have 20 players ‐ including three running backs (David Wilson, Peyton Hillis and Michael Cox) ‐ on injured reserve. The secret weapon becomes an undrafted rookie who spent much of the season on Miami's practice squad.

McAdoo noted that Darkwa does have "a good set of hands." With that not being Williams' strength, there is a good chance Darkwa is utilized in passing situations.

It's an area where the Giants have lacked production. Their running backs have combined for 49 total receptions this season. Chicago's Matt Forte and Pittsburgh's Le'Veon Bell each have more than the entire Giants backfield.

This is where the Giants were hoping to have Wilson. He was the different kind of back that would have provided a more versatile backfield.

It also didn't help when Jennings missed four games earlier this season with a knee injury. Williams caught 10 passes in four years at Boston College. Catching the ball out of the backfield is not his forte.

Enter Darkwa on Sunday in Tennessee. It looks as if he'll be asked to play that role.

The Giants also signed veteran running back Chris Ogbonnaya this week for depth.